1961 Ernie Davis Game Worn Jersey, Heisman Trophy Season.
The 2008 feature film "The Express" brought about a resurgence in
interest for this tragic superstar, but for those who remember his
heroics both on and off the field, his star never faded. Born into
the gritty steel belt of western Pennsylvania which has served as
the training grounds for many of the gridiron's greatest stars,
Davis would find more than fifty college scholarships waiting for
him upon his high school graduation. He would follow in the
footsteps of his own football idol, the great Jim Brown, choosing
Syracuse University, and even going so far as to request the number
"44" jersey that Brown had worn with such distinction. Only Davis
could have done those digits justice.

Fresh to the collecting hobby, and consigned directly by the fan
who secretly acquired it from the Syracuse equipment manager, this
remarkable Orangemen shirt is Davis' own number "44" gamer, worn
during his 1961 senior year season in which he became the first
African-American recipient of the Heisman Trophy. The white thin
cotton gamer was retired after it had served its intended "tear
away" purpose during a September 30th meeting with West Virginia at
Syracuse's Archbold Stadium, with a major rip on the verso freeing
the galloping Davis from a tackler's grasp but rendering the shirt
unsuitable for future use. Our consignor explained to us that the
equipment manager was directed to incinerate all damaged jerseys,
but due to a family connection (the equipment manager was the
cousin of the consignor's mother) he was able to convince him to
sneak the shirt to him in a rolled up towel. The excited new owner
neatly repaired the jagged tear but otherwise left it in its
original state, never even laundering the jersey.

The shirt exhibits tremendous game use, most notably in the
meandering repaired tear on the back that snakes from the left
number "4" to the right side seam, and down to the lower hem at the
base of the buttoned crotch piece. Scattered staining and toning is
likely a function of both game use and age, and some smaller holes
in the shirt might well be the result of post-game elements. The
jersey is far from pristine, though condition problems must be
forgiven in light of the tremendous rarity and desirability.
Remnants of orange paint on the shoulders are likely the result of
collisions with helmets and/or turf paint.

The dark navy "44" is slightly smaller on chest than on verso,
though each is identically affixed with heavy orange stitching. A
distinctive triple band of navy striping rings each sleeve. The
buttoned crotch piece survives fully intact, with all six buttons
remaining, and the proper "Wilson" and size "48" labels affixed
with straight stitching. In short, the shirt matches all period
Syracuse exemplars to the letter. Note that the adjacent lots
featuring another Syracuse jersey and a signed Ernie Davis snapshot
are consigned by the same source, who will provide a letter of
provenance. LOA from Lou Lampson.